44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. (Luke 23:44-49 KJV)
The Death of Jesus
In these verses, we observe three things:
First, Christ’s death is magnified by two miraculous signs. One was the darkening of the sun at noon. Around the sixth hour (12 p.m.), darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3 p.m.). It was likely caused by both an eclipse and heavy cloud cover, making the atmosphere dark and foreboding for three hours, unlike the three-day darkness in Egypt.
The other was the tearing of the temple veil. This event, happening in God’s earthly sanctuary, paralleled the disturbance in the heavens, showing that both heaven and earth reacted to the death of the Son of God. The tearing of the veil symbolized the end of the ceremonial law, which separated Jews and Gentiles, and removed barriers between sinners and God, so that now we may approach the throne of grace boldly (Hebrews 4:16).
Second, Christ’s death is explained by his final words (Luke 23:46): “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” He spoke this aloud, indicating his purpose and allowing all present to hear.
He quoted David from Psalm 31:5—not because he lacked words of his own, but to show that Old Testament Scripture testified of him and that he fulfilled it. Jesus died with Scripture on his lips, setting an example for us to speak God’s Word even in death.
He addressed God as “Father.” Earlier, when he cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), he expressed his anguish. Now that the agony had passed, he returned to calling God “Father,” showing reconciliation and peace. In his death, he opened the way for us to call God our Father, through adoption in him.
Christ offered up his life as a mediator. He gave himself as a sacrifice for sin (Isaiah 53:10), a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28), and offered himself through the eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14). As both priest and offering, he paid the price owed to God by sinners. In this final word, he laid his hand on the offering and surrendered his spirit, saying, in effect, “Father, accept my soul in place of those for whom I die.”
These words also show Christ’s trust in the Father for his resurrection. He committed his soul to the Father to receive it into paradise and return it to his body on the third day. This confirms that Jesus had a true human soul, separate from the body, and that he truly experienced death as we do. He entrusted that soul to God, confident it would not be abandoned or left in the grave to see decay (Psalm 16:10).
Jesus gave dying believers an example. He adapted David’s words for dying saints, sanctifying them for our use. In death, our greatest concern should be our souls. We should commit them to God as Father, both to be made holy in this life and perfected in the next. When we say with sincerity, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” we show our willingness to die, our faith in life after death, and our desire for eternal fellowship with God.
Third, Christ’s death is seen in the effect it had on those who witnessed it.
The Roman centurion in charge was deeply affected (Luke 23:47). Though a Gentile unfamiliar with Israel’s promises, he glorified God when he saw the events surrounding Jesus’ death and said, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” In Matthew and Mark, his confession goes further: “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39). Either way, he recognized Jesus’ innocence and divinity, acknowledging that the signs from heaven confirmed Jesus’ claims.
The general crowd was also impacted (Luke 23:48). Many had come, as people do for public executions, perhaps with curiosity or cruelty. But when they saw what happened—the darkness, the way Jesus died—they were sobered. They beat their breasts, a sign of sorrow and remorse. Some may have been among those who earlier shouted, “Crucify him!” but now they felt the weight of what had been done. Their awakened consciences showed that even the most hardened hearts can be shaken.
Yet, tragically, this conviction may not have lasted. They returned home, and there is no record of further response. Like many today, they were stirred for a moment but not changed. They saw Jesus lifted up and were touched emotionally, but not transformed spiritually. James warns against this fleeting conviction (James 1:23–24)—seeing Christ and forgetting him quickly.
Meanwhile, Christ’s followers stood at a distance, watching (Luke 23:49). All his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee remained nearby, though afraid to stand too close. They were likely worried about being arrested as his supporters. This fulfilled what Job experienced (Job 19:13) and what Psalm 88:18 describes: “You have taken my companions and loved ones from me.” It was part of Jesus’ suffering that even his closest companions were absent at his death. Yet they watched from afar, struggling to understand what was happening, uncertain that this was the path to resurrection.
Simeon had prophesied that Jesus would be a sign spoken against, revealing the hearts of many (Luke 2:34-35). At the cross, that prophecy was fulfilled: the centurion confessed, the crowd was shaken, and the disciples were stunned. Each response revealed the true thoughts of their hearts. Even in death, Jesus was discerning and dividing the hearts of men.